In 2026, IPEN is changing. The network has been growing and maturing, and this year will see some big changes.
Communications and events
We are sadly saying goodbye to one of our core team, Fiona Blair, as funding for the Communications and Events Coordinator role has come to an end. You will have seen Fiona sending our newsletters, organizing our seminars and developing our communications. She has helped IPEN grow from a small volunteer-led group of committed engagement enthusiasts into a burgeoning professional network that is widely recognized for its expertise.
Fiona will continue to be a member in IPEN, whilst moving into a Project Manager role for an arts-based research project that works with marginalised communities. Thank you to Fiona for all your hard work, and we wish you all the best in your next endeavours.
Without Fiona, IPEN will be moving back to being volunteer-led. This means fewer events and communications, but more opportunities for you to get involved. Activities will be delivered more directly by the IPEN Executive Team, partners (including the Westminster Foundation for Democracy) and IPEN members.
We need your ideas on anything IPEN, including topics to cover in seminars, speakers to hear from, funding opportunities and innovative practices to cover in our newsletter. And we’d love it if you could help deliver IPEN activities. Get in touch by email at [email protected] or via MS Teams.
IPEN Chair
This isn’t the only change we are expecting this year. After more than five extremely productive years, our brilliant Chair – Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira – is preparing to stand down later in the year.
Under Cristina’s leadership, IPEN grew from an idea to an established reality. Her expertise, warmth, commitment and deep understanding of both research and practice have enlightened and inspired the IPEN community. We aim to honour her legacy with an event later in the year, where we will also celebrate the new Chair taking over. Cristina will remain in IPEN after this date in the role of Deputy Chair.
The IPEN Executive Team is in the process of electing a Vice Chair, who will be in place for 6 to 12 months, to learn the ropes before taking over as Chair later this year. We will let you know the outcome as soon as we can. Details about the election process as well as IPEN’s governance arrangements will be shared in MS Teams soon. If you are interested in joining the Executive Team, or would like to find out more about its work, do get in touch.
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Image by Murali nath from Pixabay
19 January 2026